In Matthew 22 and Mark 12, we read about an expert of law asking Jesus what the greatest commandment is? Jesus answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40). The first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind. In Mark, there is another phrase added as well: "with all your strength." (Mark 12:30). In Luke 10, the table was turned and Jesus asked an expert of law what is written in the Law about what he must do to inherit the eternal life. The expert answered similarly with the greatest commandments.
Many times in the Bible, when you see a list, the items in the list are not necessarily separate and distinct, but different descriptions of the same for emphasis. That is how Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh's dreams as well (Genesis 41:32). That might be the case here as well with the greatest commandment. But I would like to consider what is meant by "with all your mind" for now.
The Greek word translated as "mind" in Matthew 22:37 is "διανοια" (dianoia). This appears at least 11 times in the New Testament and is variously translated as mind, (inmost) thoughts (Luke 1:51), understanding (Ephesians 4:18, I John 5:20), and thinking (II Peter 3:1). In Korean Bible, this word was translated as "뜻". Importantly, that is where we used to be alienated from God (Colossians 1:21). That is also where, with the new covenant, God is putting His laws in His people (Hebrews 8:10) and what we have to prepare for action (I Peter 1:13). Our mind may be the battleground that Paul describes in Romans 7:21-25, where we wage a war against the law of sin.
If I am to love my Lord God with all my mind, my inner being, my inmost thoughts, my whole understanding, and my mind must be totally focused and absorbed in knowing the Lord. Paul confessed: "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:8). Everything else is just garbage and rubbish, compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing the Lord. Our mind should be too occupied with Jesus to consider anything else as valuable, if we are loving Him with all our mind. We are to fix our eyes on our Lord (Hebrews 12:2, Psalm 141:8). One step further, we are to have the mind of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5).
When a young man falls in love with a young girl, his mind is totally absorbed in thinking about her. He is thinking about what she may be doing this instant, what she may be thinking, what he may do to try and please her, and so on and on. Likewise, my love of the Lord should be a total one. It should be a complete love for the Lord. My thought should be on what the Lord's will is, what He would be pleased with, and how I could please Him. If I am loving the Lord with all my mind, my love of Him should exceed that for a woman (I Corinthians 7:32-35). If love for a friend can exceed that of women (II Samuel 1:26), then surely my love of the Lord could exceed that as well.
Lord, I want to love you with all my mind. Let me appreciate the surpassing greatness of knowing You. Let me be fixated on You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Secrets of Jonathan Sperry
At the teachers' retreat earlier today, I was shown a movie entitled "Secrets of Jonathan Sperry." The movie is based on a real story about an elderly man in the last months of his life, who in the course of one summer introduces Jesus into the lives of young boys of the neighborhood and changes their lives for ever. One day he approaches a boy named Dustin and invites him to start mowing his lawn. He then invites Dustin and his two friends to a Bible study with a chocolate cake. His lessons of the Bible are not long discourses or exegesis, but are simply taken from life situations -- chocolate cakes, a trip to a local cemetery, and dealing with a school bully. Mr. Sperry's Bible studies change the boys, so that they begin to read the Bible on their own and tell their friends about the Bible. Eventually even the bully is changed by the Word. Though Mr. Sperry passes away before the summer is over, the boys are permanently changed, with Dustin becoming a pastor.
As a youth group teacher, I could not help wondering how effective I have been as a teacher, compared to Mr. Sperry. Mr. Sperry's method was to build a relationship with his boys and take advantage of life situations to point them to the Bible. The Word of God then did the rest, changing the boys. The wonders of the Bible do not depend on human wisdom to shine through. Paul confessed that he was not called to preach the gospel with (his) wisdom or eloquence, "lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." (I Corinthians 1:17). The gospel message is powerful in its own right. One only needs to share it without adding or substracting.
Mr. Sperry's method might have also been Jesus' method with His disciples. Jesus spent time with the disciples every day for three years. The disciples walked with Him, talked with Him, ate with Him, watched him teach about the kingdom of God, asked Him questions -- they saw Him live His life on earth from a very close range. That prepared them for their ministry later.
In a scene from the movie, Mr. Sperry talks with Nick the school bully. Mr. Sperry tells Nick about his father -- how he became a Christian, how he was rejected by his wife who did not understand faith, and how he would have given the proper attention to Nick if he had been with him. The phrase "the proper attention" struck me like a bolt of lightning. What kind of attention have I given to my own children and my students in the youth group Bible study? A good Bible lesson has to be based on a good relationship; relationship building starts with giving a "proper attention." That is where I will start to improve.
As a youth group teacher, I could not help wondering how effective I have been as a teacher, compared to Mr. Sperry. Mr. Sperry's method was to build a relationship with his boys and take advantage of life situations to point them to the Bible. The Word of God then did the rest, changing the boys. The wonders of the Bible do not depend on human wisdom to shine through. Paul confessed that he was not called to preach the gospel with (his) wisdom or eloquence, "lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." (I Corinthians 1:17). The gospel message is powerful in its own right. One only needs to share it without adding or substracting.
Mr. Sperry's method might have also been Jesus' method with His disciples. Jesus spent time with the disciples every day for three years. The disciples walked with Him, talked with Him, ate with Him, watched him teach about the kingdom of God, asked Him questions -- they saw Him live His life on earth from a very close range. That prepared them for their ministry later.
In a scene from the movie, Mr. Sperry talks with Nick the school bully. Mr. Sperry tells Nick about his father -- how he became a Christian, how he was rejected by his wife who did not understand faith, and how he would have given the proper attention to Nick if he had been with him. The phrase "the proper attention" struck me like a bolt of lightning. What kind of attention have I given to my own children and my students in the youth group Bible study? A good Bible lesson has to be based on a good relationship; relationship building starts with giving a "proper attention." That is where I will start to improve.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Message of Christmas
As a youngster, I grew up learning some of the songs written by my mom's oldest brother, who was an elder and an evangelist. One song he wrote for Christmas goes like this:
"크리스마스 축하하러 가는 길에
사랑하는 나의 친구 셋을 만나서
회개하고 예수 믿기 결심하니
기쁜 중에 더욱 기뻐 춤을 춥니다.
오늘 날은 우리 구주 나신 날,
기쁘고도 즐겁고도 참말 좋은 날,
얼씨구 좋구나, 참말 좋구나,
닐 닐 니일 닐 닐닐닐..."
which may be translated as:
"On my way to celebrate Christmas,
I met three of my dearest friends,
Who repented and decided to believe in Jesus,
Giving me joy upon joy and making me dance.
Today marks the birth of our Saviour,
Today is a day of joy, delight, pure bliss,
How joyful, how blessed is today,
Lal, lal, la-al, lal, lal, lal, lal ..."
I think the song captures the true meaning of Christmas really well, The main message of Christmas is as sung by the heavenly host on the First Noel:
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
This good news of peace is referring to the peace that the believers get to enjoy with God -- peace that represents reconciliation between God and men, who are no longer separated from God because of their sin (Romans 5:1-11, Colossians 1:22). Jesus came to the world as a man, so that He can pay the price of sin and tear down the wall between God and His people. With His death, the curtain of the temple was torn in half from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), so that a new and living way was opened up for us to approach God (Hebrews 10:19-20).
Thus the true message of Christmas is our reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. With Christmas, the work of God, which is to believe in the One He sent (John 6:29), was begun.
Our job is to carry this message of peace and reconciliation to those who have not yet heard it. We are to be peace-makers carrying out the ministry of reconciliation (Matthew 5:9, II Corinthians 5:18). That is the good tidings of Christmas!
"크리스마스 축하하러 가는 길에
사랑하는 나의 친구 셋을 만나서
회개하고 예수 믿기 결심하니
기쁜 중에 더욱 기뻐 춤을 춥니다.
오늘 날은 우리 구주 나신 날,
기쁘고도 즐겁고도 참말 좋은 날,
얼씨구 좋구나, 참말 좋구나,
닐 닐 니일 닐 닐닐닐..."
which may be translated as:
"On my way to celebrate Christmas,
I met three of my dearest friends,
Who repented and decided to believe in Jesus,
Giving me joy upon joy and making me dance.
Today marks the birth of our Saviour,
Today is a day of joy, delight, pure bliss,
How joyful, how blessed is today,
Lal, lal, la-al, lal, lal, lal, lal ..."
I think the song captures the true meaning of Christmas really well, The main message of Christmas is as sung by the heavenly host on the First Noel:
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
This good news of peace is referring to the peace that the believers get to enjoy with God -- peace that represents reconciliation between God and men, who are no longer separated from God because of their sin (Romans 5:1-11, Colossians 1:22). Jesus came to the world as a man, so that He can pay the price of sin and tear down the wall between God and His people. With His death, the curtain of the temple was torn in half from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), so that a new and living way was opened up for us to approach God (Hebrews 10:19-20).
Thus the true message of Christmas is our reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. With Christmas, the work of God, which is to believe in the One He sent (John 6:29), was begun.
Our job is to carry this message of peace and reconciliation to those who have not yet heard it. We are to be peace-makers carrying out the ministry of reconciliation (Matthew 5:9, II Corinthians 5:18). That is the good tidings of Christmas!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)